The reputation and strength of CMC depends on generous and visionary donors.

Information for Accepted Students

Congratulations on being accepted to the Washington Program! Before leaving campus, we encourage you to meet with Washington Program alumni, to read the evaluation forms filled out by previous participants, and read a newspaper from Washington to keep up with current events.

The next few months will be crucial in preparing to work, study, and live in Washington and we ask that you cooperate fully in this preparation. Our expectations are that you will attend all your classes in Claremont this semester and respond promptly to our email correspondence with you. The expectation is you will attend all required meetings without receiving reminders from our office. Our assumption is that if you cannot organize your time to satisfactorily complete this preparation, you are not ready for a semester in our nation’s capital. Lastly, remember we are here to help you, so do not hesitate to call on us. The requirements related to this preparation include:

Submitting a list of organizations with which you would like to intern.

Submitting by the deadline these required forms: Insurance Authorization, Intern Clearance, Information Release, Health Form, Transcript Release, Emergency Contact and Housing (CMC only). CMC students please give the housing form to Lyn Hughes in the Dean of Students office. Pitzer, Pomona, Scripps, and HMC students must inquire with their deans of housing to make arrangements for housing.

Submit an updated copy of your résumé if requested in your acceptance letter.

Revise your greeting message on your cellphone and change your privacy settings on Facebook. Ensure that prospective employers will be impressed with you when they telephone or check your Facebook page.

Actively pursue an internship. This entails making follow-up calls to Washington to check on the status of your application(s), maintaining regular contact with Dr. Spalding, and responding to all emails.

Get to know the group of students going to D.C.

Actively seek housing in D.C.

Achieve a minimum of 9.0 GPA in four courses the semester prior to attending the program.

Mandatory Meetings for Accepted Interns

Fall 2017 Dates for Spring 2018 internships

Advising Period

Week of October 2, 2017

Orientation Meeting
Lunch and Meeting in TBAAttendance is mandatory.
(if you have class, please contact us)

Friday, October 6, 2017
12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Dinner with Program AlumniAttendance is mandatory.
(If you have class, please contact us)

Health and Safety

The health and safety of our students is a top priority at CMC. While we acknowledge that there is risk in living and working in any city, rest assured, we treat safety very seriously. This starts with interns taking responsibility for their own safety and renting an apartment in a safe neighborhood and continues with the following:

At orientation, all student interns receive a wallet-sized emergency card with contact information for CMC staff in Claremont and in Washington, D.C.

In a three-hour session during orientation week in Washington, security expert Scott Carle walks the students through emergency preparedness and a safety checklist of living and working in the nation's capital. A consultant for the college, Mr. Carle has over thirty years of experience in law enforcement and the U.S. military.

Students receive an emergency kit with supplies to use in case of an emergency.

Students' emergency contact information is always available for the on-call dean from the Dean of Students Office.

To reach campus security, dial (909) 621-8170.

All students from the Claremont Colleges are entitled to five free sessions with a psychological counselor.

Students are given a list of suggested medical facilities during orientation.

Last, but certainly not least, Dr. Elizabeth Spalding, our director in Washington, D.C., is available to assist students and can be reached via cell phone 24/7.